A true legend in American soccer history will be calling it quits soon.
Megan Rapinoe, the longtime winger for the NWSL’s OL Reign and the United States women’s national team, announced on Saturday that she will be retiring from professional soccer at the end of her NSWL season this fall.
In her decorated career, the U.S. women’s national team won the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the gold medal with the team at the 2012 London Summer Olympics.
Rapinoe also individually won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot honors at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup for her stellar performance.
She received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden in 2022 for her on-field achievements and her off-field social activism.
It is with a deep sense of peace & gratitude that I have decided this will be my final season playing this beautiful game. I never could have imagined the ways in which soccer would shape & change my life forever, but by the look on this little girl’s face, she knew all along. pic.twitter.com/XGZ1T9i7Wy
— Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) July 8, 2023
Rapinoe will play in her final FIFA Women’s World Cup with the U.S. women’s national team this month.
After Rapinoe announced news of her retirement, soccer fans paid tribute to the trailblazing athlete and advocate’s career.
Okay this is awesome. So let's agree that from now on all retirement announcements must be be accompanied by a photo of ourselves as kids. https://t.co/VxXYZEcRTC
— Ryan McGee (@ESPNMcGee) July 8, 2023
It's been an absolute privilege to watch Megan Rapinoe play and I plan on enjoying the hell out of every remaining second of her soccer career. https://t.co/HesGFUaHNf
— Sara Sanchez (@BCB_Sara) July 8, 2023
You have elevated the game and your team @mPinoe. Thank you for the gift of your brilliant play and leadership. https://t.co/ftz6aOpOOS
— Sherrilyn Ifill (@SIfill_) July 8, 2023
What Megan Rapinoe has done for women's soccer, soccer in America, & the world of athletics is immense. Thank you for being you. https://t.co/68B1S42hbP
— Eric Wahl (@ziplamak) July 8, 2023
LAST DANCE ✊ 🇺🇸@mPinoe | #FIFAWWC https://t.co/EiwYZxMU1R pic.twitter.com/f1gGJxBoxK
— Copa Mundial FIFA 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_es) July 8, 2023
Congratulations to @mPinoe on an incredible career! You have been a game changer in so many ways for not only women’s sports and athletes, but for the world! 👏🏼🫶🏼 #MeganRapinoe #NWSL #OLReign #ReignSupreme https://t.co/ATxYf7xQN6
— Mikaela Mattes 🎙 (@mikaelamattes) July 8, 2023
A @USWNT Icon ⭐️
The game will miss you @mPinoe ❤️ https://t.co/w0rlkrN8te
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 8, 2023
A legend as important off the field as on it, if not more so. Congrats Megan Rapinoe on a special career. #USWNT https://t.co/smsv6mt1st
— Holden Walter-Warner (@hwalterwarner) July 8, 2023
Sad that her career is ending, but hoping she ends it with a bang – World Cup and NWLS titles! She's been my favorite women's soccer player to watch throughout her career, and I felt blessed she came to play for the Reign here in Seattle when the NWSL started. https://t.co/Y1Rt0peO1s
— Randy Flynn 🔜 Gen Con (@rf_seattle) July 8, 2023
2x World Cup champion, Olympic Gold medalist, 2019 World Cup Golden Ball and Golden Boot winner, Ballon d'Or winner, top 10 in USWNT in both goals and assists…her career accolades are actually shocking https://t.co/EOpbtvAPGG pic.twitter.com/p1WFvVD08i
— lauren (@njdlauren) July 8, 2023
Our hometown hero. @mPinoe has shown our rural athletes in Northern California that the pinnacle of sport is theirs for the taking.
Can’t wait to watch you dazzle on the World Cup stage one final time. ✨🇺🇸 https://t.co/zcdb6HFGkG
— Rylee Pedotti (@rpedotti) July 8, 2023
A legend on the pitch of course, but when they say rising tides life all boats, you’ve been a TIDE @mpinoe. You raised the bar for women in sports, on and off the field with your audacity & fearlessness. We’ll cry tears when you play the last one, but the story continues! ♾️ https://t.co/dequfeiVEB
— Justine Brown (@Justine_Brown) July 8, 2023
Salute to one of the greatest to ever lace them up. Have long admired her on the field and off. Standing up for equality & speaking out against racial injustice, she’s an inspiration. A free spirit with a fierce game, so fun to watch. Love you, #MeganRapinoe , we’ll miss you 💕 https://t.co/Uia7liyDWX
— Johnny (@jrptigers) July 8, 2023
Few athletes have done more to even the playing field for women in sports. Megan will forever be remembered as not just one of the greatest soccer players of all time, but as an incredible, passionate person. What a career. https://t.co/k1blzzNkZ7
— Emily Shiroff (@emilyshiroff) July 8, 2023
Thank you for what you’ve done for women’s soccer on and off the field
🩷❤️🧡💛⚽️💚🩵💙💜 #NWSL #OLreign https://t.co/aprUJdOw2y— ℕ𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣’𝕤 𝕍𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕆𝕨𝕟 (@_noblestrength_) July 8, 2023
